Why did Rare Bear pull out of Sundays Gold Race?

[RAD2LTR]

The boil off system might have been part of the issue. Friday night as I was walking the pits in the dark I overheard part of a converstation between Mr Cornell and Steve H. Jr. It sounded like there might be an issue with getting an air bubble somewhere in the boiloff system that causes issues. It sounds like the reason is because the tank sits at an angle and if the water sloshes it traps air or something. I'm not 100% sure they were talking about the boiloff system or not, but it sounded like it.

Mr Cornell also had an interesting story about riding around in Jay Leno's tank car and loosing an oil line somewhere in L.A. Apparently it made quite a mess.

Will

[ChrisMX105]

Without getting into gnarly details and top secret info I can assure you the boiloff is working as intended with 0 issues

[Ebehne]

Any number of people with a lot of knowledge believe that if *EVERYTHING* about the Bear is working right, it can run with the fastest Mustangs. Sure, whenever anyone says that- I don't care if its a test pilot who has flown the plane, or engineer or mechanic with 50 years experience or just me sitting on an office chair, they're making an estimate and using some judgement so there's room for error. If someone ever says categorically that the Bear is slower than Strega or that the Bear is faster than Strega, then I smell an overstatement. the unknowns in every engineer's or pilot's assessment of each airplane are precisely why they take them out and race them, and that's why Tiger and Steven sounded disappointed that the Bear was having problems.

I'm pretty sure that anyone who categorically says that a healthy bear can't run with mustangs wasn't at Stead in 2003 on Friday. Its unfortunate that it seems to always take everything going right for that plane to be THAT fast, but that just seems to be the nature of this particular beast. I'm sure we will see it run with a mustang again, the question now is which mustang? Anyone want to split the cost of Voodoo with me?

[440_Magnum]

I think this just shows the level of refinement over the years in their boiler system. When operating at it's peak efficiency a boiler should vent very little "steam" over board. The water droplets should collect and be returned to the liquid in the tank. The first year it belched ADI out the tail when running in a three point stance. Last year it didn't pump fluid out, but did produce a lot of steam. This year, very little steam at any time.

Venting the water/alcohol vapor overboard is the ONLY way that a boiloff system rejects heat away from the airplane. If there were enough cooling around the boiler tank to re-condense the vapor, then there's enough cooling to cool the oil directly and there would be no need for the boiler. Does that make sense? Changing the state from liquid to vapor requires a lot of calories of heat, but those same calories have to be removed from the VAPOR to change it back to liquid, and that can't happen without some form of heat-exchanger and the drag of a heat exchanger is exactly what the boiler tries to eliminate. Basically the vapor leaving the A/C takes the heat with it, so if vapor isn't coming out that means that not much heat is going in.

That said, the first year when it puked LIQUID out... no need for that! The vapor should ideally be invisible until it hits cooler air and begins to condense.

[boomtown]

Attachment 18890
Attachment 18891
These are on takeoff heading into form up on Sunday. You can see her venting a little.

[C_roundy]

As time passes, it becomes more and more amazing to me what you guys did during those years, John.

440_Magnum, I agree more than words can say.

[C_roundy]

I'm pretty sure that anyone who categorically says that a healthy bear can't run with mustangs wasn't at Stead in 2003 on Friday. Its unfortunate that it seems to always take everything going right for that plane to be THAT fast, but that just seems to be the nature of this particular beast. I'm sure we will see it run with a mustang again, the question now is which mustang? Anyone want to split the cost of Voodoo with me?

Ebehne, Yes Sir , I want very much to split the cost with you for said superb Mustang, for Rare Bear to finally fight well against (in this decade}, before they all stop being campaigned forever.....

[C_roundy]

There are old pilots and there are bold pilots. There are no old, bold pilots.

I stand morally, against your point sir; Lyle Shelton lived to a ripe old age, and he was indeed BOLD, for so many steps, all in a row, in his way.

[C_roundy]

Anyone who doesn't already understand just how awesome "Rare Bear" was, is, and can be in the future, should do a good search through this web-site, and read all the truth that has been written !!!

I mean way, way back thru the archives.

[grampi]

Anyone who doesn't already understand just how awesome "Rare Bear" was, is, and can be in the future, should do a good search through this web-site, and read all the truth that has been written !!!

I mean way, way back thru the archives.

Silly post....